Buffalo 8, Durham 7. Jeff Niemann didn’t do the Rays any favors in his last start prior to the trade deadline. In 4.2 innings, he gave up 5 runs on 5 hits and walked another 6 batters with only 3 strike outs. Niemann dropped to 7-5 with a 3.53 ERA…Justin Ruggiano was 3-4 with 2 doubles and a solo home run. He had 2 RBI…Fernando Perez went 1-3 with 2 walks and his 34th stolen base…Reid Brignac added a double and a home run in 5 at bats, driving in 3. It was his 25th double and 8th home run.

Montgomery 2, Huntsville 1 (gm 1; 8). Jeremy Hellickson was dominant, but did not get the win. He struck out 9 in 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk. After giving up a solo home run and a single in the 2nd, Hellboy retired the next 12 in a row, with 7 Ks before giving up a single in the 6th….Chris Nowak was 2-4 with a solo home run in the top of the 8th inning…Rocco Baldelli DH’d, going 1-4 with a double.

Montgomery 4, Huntsville 2 (gm 2).Stephen Andrade filled in as a spot-starter in the nightcap and threw 3 scoreless innings…Eddie Morlan gave up 2 runs in 2 innings of relief…Rashad Eldridge went 2-4 with a double and is hitting .297 with a .395 OBP.Vero Beach 6, Jupiter 3. Ryan Morse gave up 3 runs (1 earned) in 5 innings…Cesar Suarez broke a 3-3 tie in the 9th with a sac fly, and Matt Fields followed with a 3-run home run.

Columbus 6, Augusta 4. Jeremy Hall struck out 5 in 6.1 innings, and gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and no walks…Greg Sexton was 1-5 with a 3-run home run…Stephen Vogt added 3 hits in 4 at bats with a walk and an RBI.

Rocco Baldelli will conclude his rehab assignment on Friday and Joe Maddon hinted that he would rejoin the Rays at that point. However, he did not say if Rocco would be activated or just workout with the Rays. [The Heater]

Maddon said Baldelli wouldn’t need to move up first to Triple-A Durham. “He would come here whenever that moment is” and get readjusted to major-league pitching, Maddon said.

Baseball Handyman compares Desmond Jennings to another great athlete in the Cardinals organization. [Baseball Handyman]